Sounding Off on Soccer with John Krysinsky
Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky talks all things soccer, including the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, collegiate and scholastic competition, MLS, Premier League, International Soccer and more.
Having worn crest for both Riverhounds and Steel City FC, Nicky Kolarac weighs in on historic Open Cup clash
Pittsburgh native Nicky Kolarac, who has played for three different teams in the US Open Cup: Michigan Bucks, Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Steel City FC, joined John Krysinsky on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to discuss the historic match between the Riverhounds and Steel City.
The match between the Riverhounds and Steel City (Tuesday, March 17 -- 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium) will be the first time two teams from the Pittsburgh area will face off against each other in the proper US Open Cup tournament since 1957 -- a span of nearly seven decades and 69 years!
John a...
Steel City FC's Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh look forward to facing Riverhounds in Open Cup
On the newest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Steel City FC's Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh to discuss their upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match vs the Riverhounds
Among the topics discussed included:
Down to the wire in USLPA-USL CBA negotiations, plus Riverhounds 2026 predictions
Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky and Mark Goodman are back and ready on a new Episode of Sounding Off on Soccer to discuss the new season as the Riverhounds get set to defend its USL Championship title.
However, will the season start on time?
The USLPA and USL Headquarters continue to negoiate in good faith, but with less than 48 hours before kickoff, there is still no new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the league.
John and Mark share their thoughts on the 11th Hour negoiations, then roll up their sleeves to disc...
Steel City FC's Tom Ovenden and Dan Brower on historic Open Cup match with Riverhounds SC
On Friday, Steel City FC and the Riverhounds announced that its historic US Open Cup match has been moved to Highmark Stadium -- on March 17, at 7 p.m.
This seemed like a great opportunity to bring back and check in with Tom Ovenden and Dan Brower, Steel City FC's owner/president and the men's first team Head Coach to discuss the match and the club's efforts to partner with the Riverhounds in hosting the Open Cup match.
Riverhounds Robbie Mertz reflects on title run, higher standards for players and more
Robbie Mertz is back for another season with his hometown club, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
This time he comes back to the club, with a new contract, as a champion, postseason hero and even more determined to contribute in contributing to the Riverhounds' standard of success that has been part of his tenures with the team.
As the Hounds kick off the preseason, Mertz joins John Krysinsky on the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast for a revealing and compelling in-depth interview.
Among the topics John and Robbie discuss included:
Randy Waldrum on United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame honor, career and transition to new role with Pitt
Randy Waldrum has earned his spot in coaching history in the United States of America.
In January, the United Soccer Coaches Annual Convention in Philadelphia, the organization honored Waldrum, along with Craig Ewing, Al Miller and Steve Sampson, as part of its 2026 Hall of Fame Class.
The U.S. Soccer coaching icon, who helped build successful women's college soccer programs at every stop, including at University of Pittsburgh, sat down with John Krysinsky for a special interview segment for Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast.
In this segment, Randy shares more on recieving on...
Stefan Lundberg comes full circle with Bridge City FC
Stefan Lundberg has done it all on the Pittsburgh soccer landscape, but he's still not done yet.
The former WPIAL and club soccer standout, who went on to a four-year career at Duquesne University, played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, where he (no pun intended) was part of the team that bridged the gap playing before scarce crowds at Chartiers Valley to the inagural season at Highmark Stadium.
Lundberg has stayed involved with the game with local amateur clubs including Tartan Devils Oak Avalon of Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League and is now one of t...
Danny Griffin reflects on Riverhounds' first-ever title winning campaign
In what was our first-ever in-person, on location edition of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, at Shiloh Plate & Pour (on Mt. Washington), one of the pillars of the Riverhounds 2025 championship squad, the team's captain and midfielder, Danny Griffin joined John Krysinsky to share his thoughts, in his first extended interview session, a few weeks after the team delivered the franchise's first-ever League Title to Pittsburgh.
If there was one overriding theme in this conversation with Griffin, it was about how the team banded together and remained a close-knit group regardless of what ever adversity it faced, eventually...
Riverhounds USL Championship Final pregame rundown with Keith Barnes and Matthew Baldwin
Before the Riverhounds kickoff against FC Tulsa in the club's first-ever appearance in the USL Championship Final -- the Sounding Off on Soccer podcast is back with a special pregame edition.
Joining PSN's John Krysinsky includes Matthew Baldwin, who has covered the Riverhounds for the past two-and-half seasons with multiple outlets including previously with Pittsburgh Soccer Now and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Keith Barnes.
Riverhounds defender Sean Suber's ready to go grab a trophy in Tulsa
With the Riverhounds set to play in the USL Championship Final at Tulsa on Saturday, we continue our series of daily Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast episodes.
Today, John Krysinsky caught up with Riverhounds' All-USL Championship First Team defender Sean Suber as the third-year pro
Thoughts on experience playing before Pittsburgh fans for three straight playoff matchesHow team has adjusted to each opponent through the playoffs and what have been the biggest challengesHow Sean's soccer journey brought him to Pittsburgh and being teammates with Danny Griffin in each of the past three yearsHow team is feeling...Riverhounds' historical run to the USL Championship Final with Mark Goodman and Matt Popchock
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are USL Championship's Eastern Conference champions and will now be facing FC Tulsa in the League Final. Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by fellow PSN contributors Mark 'Soccer Rabbi' Goodman and Matt Popchock who were all on hand at Highmark Stadium for Riverhounds 1-0 ECF triumph over Rhode Island, sharing their experiences from a memorable night in Pittsburgh soccer history and discuss the team's chances in the League Final to be played on Saturday at Noon.
Riverhounds' missing ingredient, plus Steel City FC's Nolan Hutter on US Open Qualifying run
On the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky discusses the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC one key missing ingredient as they get set to host Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship's Eastern Conference Final on Saturday.
Then, John is joined by Steel City FC's Nolan Hutter, who's been helping lead Pittsburgh's USL League Two makeshift squad through 2026 US Open Cup Qualifying:
Among the topics John and Nolan discussed include:
Steel City's quest to get into the US Open Cup proper tournament by way of qualifying with a m...Breaking down Riverhounds-Hartford playoff clash with USL broadcaster Joe Malfa
In what has become a tradition of sorts, PSN's John Krysinsky is joined by a member of the broadcast team for a Riverhounds' upcoming playoff match -- as USL Championship play-by-play announcer Joe Malfa jumps on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to discuss Saturday's USL Championship Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round match at Highmark Stadium.
Together, John and Joe breakdown the match-up and discuss the many, many storylines for the first Hounds home playoff match since 2023 and only the second this decade.
Hounds-Hartford incident investigation thoughts, plus broadcast analyst and former LaRoche coach David Day on Pitt MSOC
It's been a while, but we're back with a new episode of Sounding Off on Soccer as Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky shares his thoughts on the unfortunate incident at the end of last Saturday's Riverhounds-Hartford match, then also brings on Pitt Men's Soccer broadcast analyst and former LaRoche University boys head soccer coach, David Day, to discuss Pitt men's soccer team.
Among the topics discussed with Day include:
Can this Pitt MSOC squad still be a Top 10 caliber What improvements can they be making to not just be ball dominant but more dangerous in attacking thi...Robert Morris men's soccer ready to prove themselves all over again with Head Coach Jonathan Potter
Heading into his third year as Head Coach of Robert Morris men’s soccer, Jonathan Potter leads a program coming off one of the most impressive campaigns in program history which included winning the Horizon League championship and a berth in the NCAA Men’s Division I tournament.
“That was an exciting. cool thing that provided great moments. Hopefully, we can create some more good memories this fall,” Potter told Pittsburgh Soccer Now early this week as his team is preparing for Thursday’s season opener at Mercyhurst.
Talk about a tough act to follow.
Liste...
National analyst Devon Kerr talks Riverhounds, Pitt men
One of our favorite guests of the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Devon Kerr, returns to join John Krysinsky for an enlightening discussion with most of the interview segment talking about the Riverhounds, and on the tail end, some preseason thoughts on College Soccer and Pitt men's soccer team.
Among the topics Devin breaks down include:
Riverhounds attacking line still trying to find solutionsAssessing Bob Lilley and his value to the Riverhounds' franchise Can the Hounds find some quality wins? Pitt has only one thing on their mind at this time every year -- having sights on a...Robbie Mertz on evolving into Riverhounds' mainstay and club's most tenured player from Pittsburgh area
More than halfway through his seventh season as a professional soccer player, spending nearly all of his career playing for his hometown club, Upper St Clair native Robbie Mertz is poised to become the Riverhounds all-time appearances leader for a player from the Pittsburgh region with his next appearance. Mertz, who is also tied for the team lead in goals and is the team's runaway leader in chances created, is currently tied with club Hall of Famer, Gary DePalma (1999-2004) for the all-time appearances. With 157 matches played for the Hounds, Mertz is tied with DePalma for fifth in club hi...
The Sporting News' Mike Decourcy on USMNT, FIFA Club World Cup and soccer's equivalent of MJ v LeBron debate
It's been a while, but Mike Decourcy, fresh off covering FIFA Club World Cup at Met Life Stadium earlier in the week, joins John Krysinsky on a new episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast.
With the FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico less than one year away, Mike and John discuss the state of USMNT along with more on FIFA's Club World Cup.
Then shifting gears, they also tackle another column that Mike wrote about this week, which is one of the greatest debates that extends to all sports fans, Michael J...
Pitt women’s soccer in transition year with Ben and Randy Waldrum (Part II)
In May, Pitt women's soccer program announced an official change in leadership, with Randy Waldrum stepping into a new role as Technical Director, while Ben Waldrum is taking over as the team's Head Coach.
For the first time since the transition took place, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky had a chance to visit Pitt's Peterson Sports Complex and sit down with the father and son duo who have led Pitt women's soccer to its most successful era and has reached its greatest heights since they arrived in 2018.
In this exclusive, in-depth interview, among the topics...
Pitt women soccer's transition year with Ben Waldrum and Randy Waldrum (Part I)
In May, Pitt women's soccer program announced an official change in leadership, with Randy Waldrum stepping into a new role as Technical Director, while Ben Waldrum is taking over as the team's Head Coach.
For the first time since the transition took place, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky had a chance to visit Pitt's Peterson Sports Complex and sit down with the father and son duo who have led Pitt women's soccer to its most successful era and has reached its greatest heights since they arrived in 2018.
In this exclusive, in-depth interview, among the topics...
Nathan Prex and Josh Lane on Steel City FC's third straight Division title and first in USL League Two
In the club's first season competing in USL League Two, Steel City FC's men's team earned yet another Division Title with one match remaining, following a 2-1 defeat of Toledo Villa FC, on Sunday at Founders Field.
Two key members of the squad, Nathan Prex (Seneca Valley HS/Lebanon Valley) and Josh Lane (Leicester, England/Robert Morris), sat down for an interview on the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast with Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky.
Prex, a former standout with Seneca Valley who has excelled at Lebanon Valley College (30 goals in his...
Riveters Head Coach Scott Gibson guides Riveters' vision in exhilarating first season
On the eve of the Pittsburgh Riveters SC first-ever postseason appearance, the squad's Head Coach, Scott Gibson sat down with Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky for an insightful interview session.
Having been there to help foster the start and as a constant in the incremental growth and ascension of the Riverhounds Development Academy, Gibson was tabbed to take the role as the first-ever coach of W League League squad that would play at Highmark Stadium and generate a new level of excitement for women's soccer.
Among topics Gibson discusses includes:
Whirlwind first seas...Jack Shearer, Josh DiMatteo and Grant Glorioso are bringing pro indoor soccer back to Pittsburgh with Bridge City FC
Three Pittsburgh natives, Jack Shearer, Josh DiMatteo and Grant Glorioso are bringing professional indoor soccer back to the Steel City.
On the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Shearer, DiMatteo and Glorioso join Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky to share more details about the new Major League Indoor Soccer franchise: Bridge City FC.
After years of playing Division I collegiate and professional indoor soccer in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), with teams like the Baltimore Blast and Harrisburg Heat, the trio is launching a new franchise, Bridge City FC, in the Major Lea...
Reilly sisters each found their own pathway to high-level soccer with Steel City FC, Riveters SC
When the Pittsburgh Riveters SC and Steel City FC face off for the second time this month on Friday night at Highmark Stadium (7 p.m. kickoff) in a high-stakes match with USL W League Great Forest Division top spot in the balance, both clubs will be showcasing rosters that will include more than four dozen players from the Greater Pittsburgh region.
Focusing on this match-up, many players on both rosters are from in and around the Greater Pittsburgh area. Many of the players on both sides know each other very well. There are many current college teammates, for...
Steel City FC's high-stakes rematch with Riveters SC with Head Coach Tom Ovenden
Steel City FC women's first team is preparing for the final weekend of the regular season in the club's first-go around in the USL W League.
Head Coach Tom Ovenden jumps on with Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky to talk about the season to this point, this Friday's high-stakes match-up vs Riveters at Highmark Stadium as both teams are vying for Great Forest Division top spot and more.
Riveters SC back Chloe Kuminkoski's Glioma Research Fund through Play for Change initiative
In a special episode of Sounding Off on Soccer, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Pittsburgh Riveters SC's Chloe Kuminkoski, who has started Glioma Research Fund, which has been backed by the team's Play for Change initiative.
In this episode, John and Chloe discuss the Riverhounds and Riveters Play for Change Initiative, Chloe's post-graduate work and return to playing soccer in her hometown, how she got involved in establishing the fund in memory of her former classmate, Haley Weiss, and much more.
More about Play for Change and Chloe Kuminkoski Glioma R...
After 10 years, what's the legacy of Riverhounds' 'Miracle on the Mon' with Matt Gajtka
In a special episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, one of our old friends and longtime PSN contributor, Matt Gajtka joins John Krysinsky to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a remarkable match and come-from-behind victory like none other for Pittsburgh Riverhounds against Keystone Derby rivals Harrisburg City Islanders
John and Matt -- who were both there on that memorable night -- discuss what stands out now -- 10 years later from that match and how Pittsburgh soccer's landscape has been shaped since that time.
More on the 'Miracle on...
Steel City FC women gear up for switch to USL W-League
While there's been a lot of attention paid to another pre-professional women's soccer team in the Pittsburgh area -- Riveters SC, who made their debut last week, Steel City FC's women are taking another step forward as a club this year, as they move from UWS into the USL W-League -- where they'll compete in the same division as Riveters SC.
Steel City FC will kick off their 2025 campaign this coming week, when they travel north to take on Erie Sports Center on Saturday (6 p.m.).
Looking ahead to a new season, co-captains Emily Graeca...
Pittsburgh vs Philly in the US Open Cup with Philadelphia Soccer Now's Matt Ralph
It will be an unprecedented moment in professional soccer landscape in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Riverhounds travel to Chester to face Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's Round of 16 (7:30 pm kickoff at Subaru Field).
This match-up provides an excellent opportunity for the two managing editors and site founders, John Krysinsky from Pittsburgh Soccer Now and Matt Ralph from Philadelphia Soccer Now to come together on a special edition of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to preview the match between two teams going in different directions...
Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast: Steel City FC men's HC Dan Brower on new challenge in USL League Two
In the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Steel City FC's Head Coach Dan Brower to talk about the club's newest challenge as they begin a new season in a new league.
Steel City FC kick off a new campaign coming off winning back-to-back NPSL Great Lakes Conference Championships, bringing back many key contributors, but also having said goodbye to some others who have either retired (Nicky Kolarac and Garret Watson) or have moved on to even higher levels (Michael Sullivan with MLS's Toronto FC)
Riverhounds need a spark plus scouting NYCFC with Mark 'Soccer Rabbi' Goodman
With the the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC gearing up to host a US Open Cup Round of 32 clash vs NYCFC at Highmark Stadium on Wednesday night (7 p.m. -- Paramount Plus), PSN's John Krysinsky is joined by 'Soccer Rabbi' Mark Goodman on the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer.
Among the topics covered and discussed include:
John breaks down the Hounds current form -- which has not been good -- as they head into this midweek Open Cup clash at Highmark StadiumPittsburgh's short history of success against MLS clubs in Pittsburgh -- and how this current Ho...Riverhounds SC Danny Griffin on returning home to new pitch after challenging April road slate
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC captain Danny Griffin joins Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky ahead of the team's return back home to Pittsburgh -- where Highmark Stadium will have a sparkling new turf pitch -- after spending the entire month of April playing four matches in three different competitions on the road.
Early season Riverhounds review with Mark Goodman and Colton Coreschi (Part II)
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC completed the month of March with consecutive victories at home to bring their overall record in USL Championship to a 2-1-1 mark.
With the shortened regular season, the Hounds are nearly at the quarter mark of the league schedule -- and a few members of Pittsburgh Soccer Now's team coverage team, Colton Coreschi and Mark Goodman joined John Krysinsky for a couple of segments of the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to share their thoughts on the Hounds after the first four matches.
Among the topics tackled by Colton, Mark...
Early season Riverhounds review with Mark Goodman and Colton Coreschi (Part I)
Michael Monsour on his groundbreaking protective headgear mission, ups and downs as chairman of Manchester 62 and more
The last we heard from Michael Monsour, he was departing Pittsburgh and his first soccer venture with Pittsburgh City United FC, to lead a group which purchased and took over operations for Manchester 62, a historic club in Gibraltar, which competes in the Gibraltar National League.
This week, Michael joins John Krysinsky to talk in more depth about his experience and shares more of this thoughts on the ups and downs of overseeing a club and much more -- including his thoughts on if he were to return to Pittsburgh -- about the possibility of a second pro s...
Still a work in progress, Riverhounds lose first match of season at San Antonio (with Colton Coreschi)
Deep in the heart of Texas, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC came up short in its second match of the season, falling 2-0, to San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Toyota Park.
https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2025/03/15/final-riverhounds-sc-vs-san-antonio-fc/
Shortly after the match, PSN's John Krysinsky was joined by Colton Coreschi to break down the Hounds' first loss of the season.
You can catch the post match reaction show on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast and on PSN's YouTube Channel.
Riverhounds, USL Championship legend Kenardo Forbes talks retirement, transition to coaching
Kenardo Forbes always knew the end of his illustrious playing career -- as the most decorated player in Riverhounds SC history -- would be coming to a close in recent years, but it wasn't until this preseason when it became clear.
"Once I knew I didn't have the fitness to go full 90 minutes," Forbes told Pittsburgh Soccer Now last week in an exclusive interview, after the Hounds training session at AHN Montour Sports Complex.
PSN's John Krysinsky has more from Kenardo on his retirement and transitioning to becoming a part of the club's coaching staff.<...
Post Match Reaction: Riverhounds SC earn road draw in season opener at NCFC with Colton Coreschi
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (0-0-1) battled back to earn a 1-1 road draw to open the USL Championship regular season against North Carolina FC (0-0-1) at WakeMed Park in Cary, NC on Saturday night.
PSN's John Krysinsky and Colton Coreshi have the immediate post match reaction and share their takeaways.
https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2025/03/08/final-north-carolina-fc-1-riverhounds-1/
PSN’s Annual Riverhounds, USL Championship 2025 predictions
It's time to partake in the Annual Pittsburgh Soccer Now predictions for the new Riverhounds and USL Championship season on the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast.
PSN’s John Krysinsky was joined by Mark Goodman 'Soccer Rabbi' and La Mega Media‘s Amadeo Eichberg, as they took turns making their predictions for the season ahead.
These predictions included:
Predict following Hounds’ results this year:How Many Points in Regular Season?Where do they finish in Eastern Conference standings?How far can the Hounds advance in Jagermeister Cup and US Open Cup?Who will be the Ri...Is Pittsburgh now on a fast track to women's pro soccer plus more burning Women's Soccer questions with Rachael Kriger
Pittsburgh Soccer Now's Rachael Kriger, who also contributes to Equalizer Soccer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and serves as color commentator for Pitt women's soccer match broadcasts, joins John Krysinsky to tackle some questions about the women's game -- both as it relates to the Pittsburgh area, nationally and internationally.
Together John and Racheal discuss the following:
